by Rocco Ryg
I’ve looked at every possible outcome, and nothing ends happily except this one. I’m so sorry. I wanted to save you from this but… only you and your friends can save this world. What did she mean by that? Only the three of them? A team of kids with unique talents saving the world?
He could reach only one possible explanation. She agreed with his views and wanted him to see them through. Thanks to that woman, a once-powerless teenager who could do nothing but criticize now had the means to make a difference… to help the oppressed and punish the oppressors. With control over the dark on his side, he could finally make his dreams reality.
Snuffing out his black shapes, Gen turned the light back on and left the bathroom. He returned to his table and said to the waitress, dressed as a fairy in a sailor suit, “A large Full Moon Pizza for us, ma’am. It’s on me.”
Suekichi said, “No way, man, it’s on me. You need to save for your date tomorrow.”
The cute young waitress asked, “Aww, who’s the lucky girl?”
“A better dresser.”
***
Late that night, Lenny Sherman stood at his post and sighed in boredom. Of all the spots in all the United States military bases in all of Japan, they just had to have him stand guard over a storage facility where nothing ever happened. Still, it beat working at McDonalds in northern Illinois.
He reached into his pocket and grabbed another stick of gum. When he looked back up, a huge black figure with boxing gloves towered over him. Kevin reached for his weapon, but the stranger hit him in the face with a mighty right punch, knocking him to the ground. With the guard unconscious, the black boxer disappeared, and its creator approached the gate. He formed a razor-lined circular saw in his hands and proceeded to cut away at the padlock.
***
At the Kaminari house, Chikara and Renka watched an unfunny, cliché-driven romantic comedy when Renka’s phone beeped. She identified the number as the same Gen used to call her from before. Chikara said, “Okay, ask him if his body still hurts. We need to know everything.”
Renka hesitated before she answered the phone. “Gen-kun?”
“Renka-chan, hey.”
“Are you feeling better? I mean, does it still hurt when you take off the ring?”
“Yeah, but not as much as before. Sorry, but I think I’ll need to keep it longer. Maybe I’ll be better tomorrow.”
Chikara wasn’t convinced. “Ask him if he can do anything yet.”
Renka rolled her eyes, realizing that her best friend was using her for the second time that day. “Are you able to do anything... unusual?”
“I can see in the dark, but other than that, no... still normal.”
“You can see in the dark?”
“Perfect night vision.”
“I guess that’s... cool. Hey, why are you calling from a different phone?”
“Mine broke.”
“I’m sorry. How?”
There was a slight pause. “I stepped on it. Hey, there’s a reason I wanted to call you. Do you want to talk about this whole... superpowers thing tomorrow? Say around two?”
“Uh... okay. Should we meet at Chikara’s house again?”
“No, I was thinking this sushi place on Tezuka Street. It’s called Kedakai. They’ve got great food.”
Renka felt like a bucket of water had splashed her in the face. This was it! He actually asked her out. Unfortunately, she could feel Chikara’s disgust and see her shake her head while whispering, “No no no.”
“Yes, Gen-kun, I’d love to go with you. In fact, I’ll pay for my own meal.”
“Great, I’ll call you tomorrow. Later.”
Renka hung up and gave Chikara a smug look. “What? How else am I supposed to know how he’s feeling? It doesn’t work over the phone, you know.”
“Fine, but if you feel anything you don’t like from him...”
“Oh, relax. I’ll be real gentle.” After feeling the sinking sensation from Chikara’s mind, she continued, “That was a joke, Chi.”
***
Gen slapped his brother’s phone shut and looked at his handy work. Three more guards had been knocked out by his boxing champs. He had his dark soldiers put them together so he could create a cage, trapping them inside. He knew that silent alarms had probably activated as soon as he cut the lights, giving him a short time to complete his mission.
At last, he came face to face with his target. The enormous B-1 Lancer sat there in its storage facility, waiting for the day it could finally fly again. He had read about the plane in great detail. It was currently the U.S. military’s only active variable-sweep wing aircraft, one of a hundred in existence, and it cost about three hundred million dollars to produce. The Air Force had been keeping it here for years. They said it kept North Korea in check, but he knew it really kept Japan in check.
His plan almost made him salivate. No protestor to the American presence had ever taken it this far. History could very well be made that night. No doubt the military would investigate, but with no explanation of the bizarre destruction plaguing their expensive equipment, they would have no choice but to draw down their forces. He wasted no more time. He imagined the form of a giant crane with a wrecking ball, even adding spikes to the huge sphere. He swung the mighty crane around and smashed the ball into the jet, crushing the cockpit. Another swing took out the center, leaving the cargo bay vulnerable.
He created a heavy block high in the air over his target, allowing it to crash into the tail with such force, it separated from the plane. He did the same to the wings, and then concentrated on the engines beneath them. Forming a sinister dragon from the cold darkness around him, he sent the creature into one of the turbines and made it chomp and bite through the wire and metal, causing irreparable damage. More dragons tore through the landing gear and the cockpit controls.
He had so much fun, he hardly noticed the headlights coming from outside. Backup, obviously. With a final swing of the crane, as if spitefully kicking a corpse, he dissipated all of his creations and ran out of the hanger. He stuck to the dark corners of the base, blending in with the shadows enough to let the guards run right past him without noticing. When he reached a barbed-wire fence, he simply formed a narrow ramp over the top, allowing him to run over it like a bridge. Nobody saw him as he disappeared into the night.
Gen looked at the Kaminari ring on his finger and smiled. This had been the greatest day of his life, and the future looked even, in an ironic sense, brighter.
CHAPTER 5
DATE NIGHT
Chikara awoke from an unpleasant dream and began her usual morning workout. With each slash of her bokken, she couldn’t help but imagine Kagekuro Gen standing in her path taking the blows. She didn’t like this one bit. First he wanted her to take the ring back, and then he asked to keep it longer citing a flimsy story about his body hurting when he took it off. He had to be up to something. Hopefully, his date with Renka would shed some light on what the ring was really doing to him.
She put on her plainclothes and came down for breakfast, but her father didn’t have the food ready. Instead he watched the television news. “Good morning, Chikara. Watch this, it’s amazing.”
She glanced at the TV and saw the footage of the American base. The female reporter described reports of terrorism while soldiers mobilized in the background. The entire platoon seemed to be in panic mode.
“What happened?”
“Apparently, some extremist group broke into the base, knocked out the guards and destroyed a jet. They don’t know how they did it. The thing is in pieces all over the hangar. No explosives, no gunpowder. Weirdest thing.”
She watched the news and searched for any clues about the mysterious vandals. Unfortunately, the military refused to release footage of the damaged plane, and only let the press inside the hangar without cameras. One of the anchors asked the reporter, “Can you describe the destruction, in your own words?”
The reporter tried her best. “It’s like a giant clubbed th
e jet into scrap.”
She changed the channel, hoping the other news programs would have more information. Unsatisfied, she ran to her computer and searched through some popular blogs, knowing that they would have more details. She learned that the crime occurred around 11:00 the previous night, and that the guards had been knocked out by what they described as “black boxers.” The alarm tripped thirty seconds after security first heard a crashing noise, and a few seconds later, the troops arrived to find the plane destroyed.
She managed to find a photograph, which had been secretly taken by an anonymous source and posted on one of the blogs. The B-1 Lancer was an absolute wreck. From the angle of the photo, she could see that the wings and engines had been torn off and ripped to pieces. The cockpit had been smashed by what appeared to be a wrecking ball. Whoever did this took out each individual part of the jet as if making a statement. The blogs universally agreed that no mere humans could have done this.
She could barely speak. Holding back her rage, she crashed her body into her bed so she could beat the pillow in guilt-ridden rage. “Kagekuro! You stupid... stupid... damn it!” Letting her anger take control, she punched her wall, leaving a huge pothole where her fist used to be.
***
Gen watched the news on his apartment’s only television, trying as hard as possible to hide the joyful smile his lips wanted to make. His parents and little brother watched with equal fascination. Gen had to suppress the overpowering urge to admit his deed and show them all exactly how he did it. Having a secret identity sure was hard. He wondered how Clark Kent managed to pull it off.
“Officials are saying a wrecking ball and other unidentified objects are the cause of the damage, but no such machines could be found anywhere near the site.” The female reporter looked as clueless as the journalists on the other channels. She tried to solicit an interview with the American soldiers and repairmen, but the crew had no comment.
Gen could hold his tongue no longer. “So Dad, what do you think?”
His father, Kagekuro Inajiro, had mixed emotions about the situation. “I certainly don’t want the Americans around anymore, but whoever can do something like this... I’d be more afraid of them. What about you, Kimie?”
In contrast, Gen’s mother adamantly objected. “It’s terrible. Nobody has the right to destroy state property like that.”
“But Mom,” said Gen, “The American military doesn’t belong here. So what if some patriots wreck one of their war machines?”
“Gen, your grandfather taught me that violence only creates more violence. There are better ways to oppose something than this.”
“Nobody got hurt.” Gen quickly worried about what he just said. If I’m not careful, Mom may catch on.
Kagekuro Kimie responded, “That’s always how it starts. ‘Nobody got hurt’ turns into ‘just one got hurt’, then ‘just a few got hurt’ and so on.”
At risk of giving himself away, Gen excused himself. “I’m going to prepare for my date.”
The surprised mother asked, “Oh, who’s the lucky girl?”
“Somebody from another class. We’re working on a... special project together.”
“Then let me get you this great cologne.”
“Thanks, Mom, but I think I’ll be okay.”
“No really. When you’re father wore it, I couldn’t resist. Here, it’s in my cabinet.”
Shuya called out to his brother, “And don’t forget to buy a new phone. I want mine back.”
Always concerned about money, their father asked, “What happened to your phone, Gen?”
His son just replied, “I stepped on it.” He had disposed of the evidence the night before.
***
Renka sat in front of Chikara’s computer and watched the coverage of the incident. Her parents had told her about it at breakfast, but she didn’t care much until her friend bombed her with the details. “Okay, so some weirdoes broke a plane? What does that have to do with us?”
“Everything!” Chikara let her anger spill over the edge. “Kagekuro is causing international terrorism!”
“What? You think Gen-kun did this?”
“Who else would it be? We gave him a ring that turns people into the goddamn X-Men. You know how much he hates the American military. It has to be him.”
Feeling Chikara’s anger radiating from her mind made Renka want to scream right back at her. She suppressed her empathy and calmly stated, “I know you’re mad, but we can’t accuse him of it without knowing for sure. What if he never talks to us again?”
“You mean he never talks to you again.” Chikara quickly regretted what she had said. “Geez, I’m sorry Renka, I’m just really freaking out here. This is my fault. Mom told me to give him the ring, and now we’re all in trouble. What if they catch him and he tells them about us?”
“I’m meeting him in just two hours. I can ask him.”
“No, he can’t suspect we know. Actually, he probably does already.”
“Then I’ll imply it. I’ll just bring it up during the conversation. It’s big news. He won’t find that suspicious.”
Renka turned her empathy back on, allowing her to sense her friend’s feeling of dread. Chikara figured she was “tuning in”. She pointed to her head and said, “Renka, I know you’re listening.”
“And I know you’re not comfortable with this.”
“I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
“Look, if Gen-kun’s going to do something wrong, I’ll know. Don’t worry, I can take care of myself. If I find out he killed the plane, I’ll tell you.”
Chikara sighed and said, “Okay, let’s get you dressed and looking nice. I’ve got this great necklace.” Renka felt no change in her friend’s level of fear.
***
Gen waited outside of Kedakai on a nearby bench and checked his watch. 1:55. He almost expected a text message saying that she had a sudden doctor’s appointment or some other dumb excuse girls used to stand up a date. His fears faded when Renka showed up, Chikara next to her. He had expected the joined-at-the-hip friends to come together. “Renka-chan. And Kaminari-san.”
Renka looked ecstatic. “Hi, Gen-kun. This looks like a nice place. Hey, what’s that smell? Are you wearing cologne?”
This made Chikara even more nervous. “You’ll bring her home, right?”
Gen smirked and replied, “Yes, I’ll take her home. Now, this is a private lunch, so... bye. See? See how that feels?”
It took Chikara a while to get the reference. “I’ll leave you two alone. Wait... one more thing. Are you done with the ring?”
Gen couldn’t believe he forgot about the ring. If he left it at home, though, she would’ve known he didn’t need it anymore. The only option he had was to give it up, so he took it off his finger. “Let’s see. Hey, no more pain. Guess I’m right as rain. Here you go.”
Renka felt her head tingle for a split second. It felt like a wasp stinging her brain. Chikara took back her inheritance and gave it to Renka. “Here, you can wear it again.”
Renka moved her hands behind her back, unwilling to take the ring again. “But it’s your turn, Chi.”
“He had it so long. I just think you should catch up. Come on, what’s a little more?”
Gen expected Renka to follow the order. Sure enough, she took the trinket and put it on her finger. He wondered if she was always so subservient. “I’ll... uh... bring back the case tonight. Later, Kaminari-san.”
“Have fun, you two.” Chikara walked back down the street.
Gen watched her until she was out of sight. When he was sure she had left, he asked his date, “Okay, let’s head inside.”
“How about we sit here?” asked Renka, pointing to the table under the cherry tree. “It’s such a nice day out.”
“Good choice. You know, the trees are going to bloom in about a month.”
“I know. I can’t wait.” The two sat down and looked over the menu. He went straight for the salads while Renka flipped
through the meats. She tried to look up from her menu to catch a glimpse of her date. She had to admit he looked great in a dress shirt, and his cologne, whatever they called it, really attracted her senses. When she looked up for another peek, she saw him looking right back at her, the same mischievous grin on his lips that he made when she peeked at him in school.
“Renka-chan, we’re on a date. You can look all you want.” She started to blush again, forcing he to burst out laughing. “Oh man, you’re hopeless.”
“Sorry, it’s a force of habit. I’m shy, I can’t help it.”
“I’m sure I’ll grow on you. So, what are you thinking?”
“How... incredibly happy I am to be here.”
“I meant about the food.”
“Oh. The deep-fried tempura sounds good. It comes with dipping sauce and daikon radish. What about you?”
“Sounds good, I’ll have that too. Are you a vegetarian?”
“No, but I really like tempura. You’re a vegetarian?”
“Everything but fish. Meat products involve such cruelty to animals, but there’s only so much I can resist.”
On the rooftop of the restaurant, Chikara groaned as she watched the couple through her portable periscope. “Won’t eat meat. What kind of Japanese are you?” Before that day, she wouldn’t have considered spying on the two without their knowledge, but given Kagekuro’s alleged crimes, she just couldn’t trust him alone with her best friend. She only wished she could hear them better, but their table sat too far from the building itself.
When the waitress came around, they placed their orders and asked for a pot of tea. He placed his elbows on the table and got straight down to business. “So... let’s talk about our special gifts.”
“Uhhh... okay.”
“You say you can feel people’s emotions?”
“Yeah. It’s weird, but I feel whatever they feel. When they’re happy, I get happy. When they’re sad, I get sad. It was hard to handle at first, but now I can control it better. Turn it off and on, so... it’s good. I like it.”